Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer Builds a Green Home

Number Six heads to a green space. Tricia Helfer, star of Battlestar Galactica, the Sci-Fi Channel's award-winning sensation, is planning an off-the-grid retreat in her native Alberta, Canada, joining the throngs of other celebrities with eco-homes. Though her role as a Cylon humanoid appears in various incarnations, we'll see how the actress juggles living in both Los Angeles and her green house.The design concept for the property, located on a beautiful, secluded prairie landscape, is a work-in-progress following a steep learning curve. She's considering a straw bale structure, since her father can grow the straw on his nearby farmland. Admitting to not being a green expert, Helfer says:

I feel it's time to start doing my part to make sure that my impact on the environment is minimized and if in my pursuits I can inspire others to do their part — then that will be very rewarding My goal is to build a house that respects the land in its entirety.

In March, the environmentally-conscious Helfer plays the role of a celebrity jumping on the green bandwagon in the Canadian movie, The Green Chain, opening in theaters in Vancouver, B.C. About battling tree lovers, from loggers to activists, it won L.A.'s Mockumentary Festival award last year.

But Helfer is busy. She appears on Burn Notice this week and next, and after the Battlestar Galactica finale March 20th, a feature version follows, and a new series is in the works at Fox, called Them. So her "Alberta House" will probably be strictly a green escape and hopefully not, like the Battlestar's mythical 13th Colony, remain virtual.